Wheel attachment for front wheel drive mechanism



Oct. 4, 1932. J. F. uvmeooo 1,881,201

.WHEEL ATTACHMENT FOR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE MECHANISM 'Filed Feb. 17, 1950 iEl-l Ill/II imam x %ZEZ@ Patented Oct 4, I 1932 JESSE r. LIVINGOOD, or WEST'TINLEZ, PENNSYLVANIA WHEEL ATTACHMENT FOR rnolv'r WHEEL DRIVE MECHANISM Application filed February 17, 1930. 'Serial "No. 4283119.

My invention relates to a front wheel attachment forfront wheel driven motor vehicles, and important Objects thereof are to provide a'substantial device of the character described, which will permit the simultaneous driving and steeringof the front wheels,

7 which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and elliclent in its use, and comparatlvely lnexpensive to manufacture. 7 With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description throughout the proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the x 15 details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise fembodiment of the invention hereinafter disclosed can be madewithin the scope of what is claimed without departing from theaspirit of the invention.

.. In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts several views z Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of afront wheel attachment embodying the invention.

notes an axle the inner end Figure 2 is a top, plan view thereof.

Referring indetail to the drawing 1 deof which is operatively connected to a differential driving mechanism of the usual construction. The axle 1 is suitably enclosed in an axle tube 2 and has its outer end connected to an axle extension 3, by'means of a universal joint 4,

of any suitable construction.

The outer end of the. axle tube 2 carries 1 an enlarged, semi-spherical socket member 5,

which is provided with a pair of integrally bearing ribs, indicated at 6 and 7.

' member 5 at the outer side of the latter.

The socket member 5 is rigidly fixed in po- 7 sition, in any suitable manner, to the outer end'of the axle tube 2. The latter carries bearingrollers 8'for journaling the outer end of the axle 1 directly inward of the universal joint 4. V l

A ball member 9 is pivotally mounted in the socket member 5, and includes an integralber9 in the socket-member 5 :to

' ing housing 10.

ly formed,tub.ular, bearing housing 10, which extends outwardly therefrom.

The ball me1nber--9 is pivotally connected in the socket member 5 by a pair of similar connecting bolts 11. Therconnecting bolts 11 are threadedlyfixed asat l2, in'ithe outer ends of respectivebearingiribs6 and .7, and have their inner ends 18 journaled for rotation in bushings 14 which :are "fixed in respective bosses 15., The latter .are lformed integral with the outerperipher; of .thesocket memher 5, and are diametrically opposed rela tively to each other.

j A steering armlo is-fixed'in a boss 17,, which is integrally formedzatthe lower side of the ball member Qadjacent to the lOWBhCOIlIlBCting bolt 11.' The steeringarm '16. extends rearwardly approximately at right angles with respect to the longitudinal disposition of the axle 1, and is adapted for connection with the; teering apparatus of the motor vehicle in the usual-mannerwell known in the art. 1 V

The connecting bolts 11, andthe universal joint 4, are all arranged in concentric verticall-alignment-and in consequence when'the steering -.arm 16 is shifted corresponding movement will be imparted-to the ball mem- "effect the steering operation.

V The axle extension 3is journaledafor rotation in a pair .of spaced roller Sbearings 18 and l9, which are suitably fixed in the'bear- The-roller'bearing'18 is dis posed adjacentto theuniversal joint 4 and themoving portion of the former abuts- The roller bearing 19 is of isengaged by a ring nut 20, which is mounted on the-threaded tension. 3.-

' The adjacent ends of the fixed portions of the rollerbearingsgl8 and 1-9 abut'against reportion 21 of the axle exspective annular shoulders 22 formed integral with the inner periphery of the bearing housing 10. The adjustmentzof the ring nut 20 on the axle extension 3 properly secures the latter in respective roller bearings 18 and 19. The axle extension 3 extends through the bearing housing 10 and projects from the latter. Such projecting portion is {formed to" V i provide a tapering connecting portlon 23and I a threaded end portion 24.

i j Thehub 25, of the motor vehicle Wheel 26,

is keyed, as at 27, to the taperedaxlefextension portion 23, to rotatewith the latter, and is fixed inzposition thereon by a nut=28 engaged on the threaded end portion 24. 7 10 ,The hub 25, comprises an inner flanged member 29 andanassociated outer flanged I" member 30. uThe-onter flanged member overlaps the inner fiangedmember 29 and'is securely clamped to the-latter bybolts .31.;

' 15 The clamping. action of the b01ts 3 1 further serve to secure the1whee1 26 to the hub 25 in the usual manner: I f g I Theifrotation-ofi he axle 1 and the asso: ciated axle extension 3 Willdrive the'yeh'icle Whee1'26,"asthe -hub-= 25 is keyed to theaxle extension'fg; and ispermittedto, rotate freely in the rollerb'earings 18 and 19. 3 i

- 1 "ltwill; be noted that the entire vehia'whee 26is. carried by the ball member 9 and the lat- 2 5 teribeing' sh'ifta'ble on its connection in the socket-member 5, as herein stated, the Vehicle Wheel 26 is permitted to-rotate freely during .the steering. Op ration.

V .gThe device is suitablylubricated to-assure1 {39 itsi efficient operation, and the construction of-the socket and ball'meinbers 5 and Qare particu'larlyadapted for lubrication pur I V poses I i" The present'inyention provides-amostefii j 1." clent and substantial{device f r permitting the simultaneous {driving and jsteering' of the front wheelsofiaimotor vehicle r L WhatI claim iszf'f,

T "In. a. front wheel drive mechanism for mo- 7 40 t0r,yehicles, the combination of an axletulc'ie adriving shaftextending'through said'tube and :journaled for rotation in thelatter, an in tegrally formed socket imem'ber including-a pair of aperturedlbear-ing rib s andbeing fixed e5; to the outer end ofsaid tube member, a-ball 7 member including a pair of-aperturedbosses and being mountedfin said socket member, a bushing mounted ina'eachof saidapertured bosses, a'fconnecting bolt "threadedlyffi-xed" in v each of sa idbea'ringribs and pivotallyfengag- V v 7 ing in respective bushings,-"a bearing-housing formed integra-lwith said ball member and projecting outyvardlyfiom theflatter, an axle GXlLQIISlOILCOIlIlQGtIHg for univ' ersalmove V ,mentwith the outer end of said driving shaft and. extending through said bearing hous-i' y 7 ing, means fonfixedlyconnecting the front Wheel to the outer end of said axle extension, v and bearing-elements mounted ;within said;

i l-bearing housing and on said shaft extension .and-providing'a bearing for the latter; j

' In testimony whereof I affix' my 'signaturei f 

